You can also get this on gog.com for free if you're on PC. However... I can't play it because I've played 7 lol.
Ultima IV is free and totally worth your time
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 On 09/07/2013 at 10:02 AM by daftman See More From This User » |
The Ultima series has floundered in recent years, though even saying that is a bit of a stretch. The last mainline entry in the series was Ultima IX: Ascension, released in 1999. And while few can deny its importance in shaping Western RPGs or the weight of its legacy, the property does not seem to be treated with much respect. One could blame that on rights-holder EA, whose recent free-to-play MMO Ultima Forever has not reviewed well, or the general landscape of the games industry today, which would much rather have its hand held than play something as demanding as an old school CRPG, but those are just moot points at the moment because if you have an iOS device handy, you can play Ultima IV right now for free.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar is fairly unique in all of RPGdom, even though it was released in 1985 (nearly 30 years ago!). Instead of having a central antagonist to defeat or cataclysm to deal with, your quest was to master eight virtues and become the Avatar, the mythic savior figure of the series and the protagonist of many of the other games. It's a game about doing good. You can see its legacy in the (comparatively simple) morality systems of BioWare's games and others, like Fallout.
The iOS version is a port from the Commodore 64 using the proven emulation software of Elite Systems, so there should be little to no technical problems. The game also comes with a plethora of extras including digital versions of everything that came with the original game, extras maps, and a history of Britannia where the series is set, among other things. It even includes in-depth gameplay guides courtesy of GameFAQS, in case you find playing such a vintage RPG daunting (I do).
This release is also timely because the most recent episode of Retronauts Pocket (the off-week mini episode) was all about Ultima IV. And the special guest was none other than former 1UP grump Scott Sharkey! So that's another reason to listen if you haven't yet. The episode covers the game, naturally, but also its impact still felt today as well as ports and other miscellany. Be sure to check it out!
There is no reason not to recomment Ultima IV. It's a landmark title with a free port that's faithful to the original. The only questions, I suppose, would be do you have the device and time to play it?
Additional Resources:
Retronauts Pocket Episode 4 — Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Announcement article on USGamer (Jeremy Parish's new stomping ground, though this one is by someone else)
But at least it's portal.
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